Xinhua Newsmen Commended for Meritorious Mission in Yugoslavia 　　Xinhua News Agency on May 19 granted Collective Merit Award, First Class, and rewards to its news team - a group of the Agency's journalists on mission in Yugoslavia. They are praised for their news dispatches, stories and photos and coverage sent home in exposing U.S.-led NATO's aggression and reflection of the heroic spirit of the Yugoslavian army and people fighting to protect their national sovereignty and the principled stand of the Chinese Government in upholding justice. 　　Many innocent civilians have been killed or injured during US-led NATO's large-scale air raids on Yugoslavia since March 24. On May 8, a NATO missile attack on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade resulted in the deaths of Xinhua correspondent Shao Yunhuan and Guangming Daily correspondents Xu Xinghu and Zhu Ying. 　　The team of newsmen includes Xinhua chief Belgrade correspondent Yang Chengming, and other correspondents Shao Yunhuan, Zhao Jinhe, Yi Gaochao, Huang Wen, Wu Zhiqiang, Hu Haixin, Zhang Tiegang, and staff members Wang Guilan and Li Zhanying. 　　Since March 24, they have written more than 560 Chinese and English stories in 350,000 words that have had a great impact on readers at home and abroad. Shao Yunhuan, who was assigned to Belgrade on March 15, wrote many accurate and lively stories about the NATO's aggression and the Yugoslavian army and people's resistance against it. 　　All Xinhua staff members were asked to learn from the team of correspondents who worked in Yugoslavia in spite of the danger, difficulties, and sacrifices. 　　Xinhua has asked its staff members to unite more closely around the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party with Jiang Zemin at the core, to uphold the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, and work hard to accomplish the glorious task assigned by the Party and the people. (Xinhua) HomeNews 1999-05-20 Page4 Full Story in Chinese